With 100% English Ancestry, I thought it might be really difficult to trace my ancestors back in England from Canada. Only my mother, her father and his mother were born in Canada. This Blog will talk about researching my English ancestors from Canada but also the ancestors of our son in law whose families stretch back far into Colonial French Canada. My one name study of Blake and of Pincombe also dominate my blog these days.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Will of George Blake of Jackbarrows, Duntisbourne Abbots, Gloucestershire -

This will for George Blake of Jackbarrows in the parish of Duntisbourne Abbots helps tie together the last will with this one. Elizabeth Blake was listed as the mother of William Blake of Duntisbourne Abbots. There is a William Blake at Jackbarrow Farm, Duntisborne Abbots, farmer, born circa 1784 on the 1851 census and at Shipton Moyne. I had to correct my previous post as I appear to have pulled up a different census then I recorded. George Blake mentions his children the eldest possibly William who is also his executor, his son George, his son John and his daughter Eleanor Howell wife of Harry Howell.

Is George the husband of Elizabeth Blake whose will was administered by William Blake? It would appear so but will leave it at that for the moment. There are more wills to come for this family.

I did find a Harry and Elenor Howell on the 1851 census at Ashton Keynes. She was 60 years of age so born circa 1791. Living with them an unmarried daughter Ellen 21 years and two granddaughters Elizabeth Howell 6 (born at Cirencester) and Elenor Day 8 years (born at Avening). This Elinor though is born in Wiltshire at Shipton Main. The same family on the 1841 census at Coates with son Henry 12 and daughter Helen 10. Interestingly Duntisbourne Abbots is only 10 miles from Ashton Keynes. Shipton Moyne only 11 miles from Ashton Keynes. Duntisbourne Abbots is 13 miles from Shipton Moyne.

A little sleuthing brought up the marriage of Eleanor Blake and Harry Howell at Duntisbourne Abbots Ml from Boyd’s Marriage Index in 1813. I will check the Society of Genealogists site as I am a member to see if there is any more information for this marriage. No further details but the information from the census does point to this being the correct family. Plus William was also born at Shipton Moyne.

On the 1851 Census William is listed as a farmer with 550 acres. His wife was Ann 65 years of age. Their niece Hannah Hale is with them (16 years of age born same place as Ann, Berkley) and a cousin William Moss (widower, 28 years of age) born at Shipton. It is the 1841 census that has William Blake living at Duntisbourne Abbots 55 years of age and an Eliza Blake 35 years of age. His marriage to Ann was perhaps after the census was taken in 1841. There was an Elizabeth Blake who died in Cirencester RD sep quarter 1841. There was a marriage at Cirencester mar quarter 1843 of a William Blake and Ann Perkins is one of the names listed.

Looking at family search I did find a baptism for a George Blake 7 Jan 1788 at Shipton Moyne son of George and Sarah Blake. Was Elizabeth his second wife? There was a marriage of George Blake to Sarah Hillier in 1781 at Shipton Moyne from the Society of Genealogists website.

Pages 2, 3, and 4 were downloaded from Ancestry and two of them have been transcribed below. They do not add to the description of this will except that William Blake, son of George, was infirm. I did not transcribe the 4th page because it is just a form for establishing the rector of the parish of Duntisborne Abbots as Commissioner and permitted to swear in William Blake to fulfil the will as written.

1 This is the last Will and Testament of me2 George Blake of Jackbarrows in the Parish of3 Dunsborne Abbotts in the County of Gloucester Yeoman4 I give and bequeath to my Son George Blake the5 sum of Three hundred Pounds to my Son John Blake the6 sum of Two hundred Pounds and to my daughter Eleanor7 Howell Wife of Harry Howell the sum of One hundred8 Pounds. All the Residue and Remainder of my Property9 Estate and Effects of what nature and kind soever I10 give and bequeath unto my Son William Blake for11 his own absolute Use and Benefit And I appoint the12 said William Blake sole Executor of this my Will and13 I hereby revoke all former Wills by me made In Witness14 whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this15 Twenty third day of April One thousand eight hundred16 and thirty two17 Signed Sealed Published and Declared18 by the said Testator George Blake as19 and for his last Will and Testament20 in the presence of us who in his21 presence at his request and in the22 presence of each other have hereunto 23 set our Names as Witnesses24 James Sturns (?)25 Will[ia]m Viner26 Tho[ma]s White27 George Blake [Page 2]28 Know all Men by these Presents that I William29 Blake of Jackbarrows in the Parish of Dunsborne30 Abbotts in the County and Ciocese of Gloucester Yeoman do31 hereby nominate Constitute and Appoint John Burrup of the32 City of Gloucester Gentleman one of the Proctors exercent in33 the Consistory Court of the Dioceses of Gloucester, my Proctor34 for me and in my name to appear before Edward Thomas35 March Phillipps, Clerk, Master of Arts Vicar General in36 Spirituals of the Right Reverend Father in God James Henry37 by Divine Permission Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Gloucester38 and of his Episcopal Consistory Official principal lawfully39 constituted, his Surrogate or other Competent Judge in that40 behalf to pray that a Commission may issue under the Seal41 of the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Gloucester to sweare me42 as Executor of George Blake late of Jackbarrows in the43 Parish of Dunsborne Abbotts in the County and Diocese of44 Gloucester Yeoman who departed this life on or about the45 Seventh day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand46 eight hundred and thirty three, the, Estate and Effects of the said47 deceased being under the value of Two thousand Pounds.48 Given under my Hand and Seal this thirteenth day of49 January in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred50 and thirty four51 William Blake52 Signed Sealed and Delivered53 in the presence of54 Jams Stevens55 Gel: White56 17 January 183457 Exhibited before me58 Edw Maddy60 Principal Surrogate Page 361 Friday the 17th day of January in the year62 of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty four 63 Before Edwin Maddy Master of Arts principal64 Surrogate and Judge of the Episcopal Consistory Court65 of the Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Gloucester present66 the Notary public under written67 In a Business of granting 68 or refusing Commission to swear69 William Blake of Jackbarrows in70 the parish of Dunsborne Abbotts71 in the County and Diocese of 72 Gloucester Yeoman as Executor73 of the last Will and Testament74 of George Blake late of Jackbarrows75 aforesaid Yeoman deceased76 On which day Burrup as the 77 lawful proctor of the said William78 Blake exhibited his proxy and79 alleged that the said George Blake80 made and published his last Will81 and Testament in writing and82 thereof appointed his Son the 83 said William Blake Executor84 and departed this life on or85 about the seventy day of April in the86 year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred87 and thirty three without having revoked the same88 and leaving Goods Chattels, rights and Credits within the89 Diocese of Gloucester but not elsewhere within the province of90 Canterbury And the proctor aforesaid further alleged that the said 91 William Blake was too infirm to attend to be sworn to the validity92 of the said Will and the amount of Effects And therefore the proctor93 aforesaid prayed that a Commission be decreed to issue directes94 in the usual way to swear the said William Blake as such95 Executor as aforesaid96 Burrup _____ 97 ______ _____98 Edw Maddy99 Principal Surrogate